Improvement in apparatus for towing canal-boats



`the chain near either end of the boat;

nitriet irti aan ecm, i

YORK.

Letters Patent No. 109,945, ma November s, 1870.y

'IMPRQVEMENT IN APPARATUS FoR'TwiNc CANAL-BoATs.

The Schedule referred to in these LetterlPatent `and making part ofthe same.

ratus as applied to a canal-at 'a lock;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, looking from the tow-path; v 4

Figure 3 is aA plan viewvof a section of thetowingchain; Y

Figures 4 and 4 are vert-ical longitudinal'sections 'of the same, the latter gure being somewhat enlarged;

Figure 5 isa plan View of the lockingdevices for confining the chain in engagement with the toothed driving-wheel, carried by audperated upon the boat;

Figure 6 is a side `elevation of the same; n

Figures7 and 8 are a plan view and a side elevation, respectively, of the roller-braces for supporting Figure 9 is a side velevation of the `boom for sup porting the chain at theentrance to the lock;

Figure 10 is a rear elevation of the same;

Figure 11 is a plan view ofthe guide forcontrolling the lateral position'of the line employed for towing barges; and

.. Figure`12 is a vertical cross-sectior of the same on 'the line x a: of iig'. -l1.

Letters of like nameandkind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

Our invention has forlits object the providing of suitable mechanism, permanently secured in position along the sides of a canal, upon or by means of' which the motive power' of a tug-boat may be caused to act so as to enable said boat to be propelled within said.

canal; and l v It consists, principally, inthe employment of a chain extending beside or within a canal, and capable of receiving and engaging witlra toothed wheel secured lengthwise strain upon the same, asv is hereinafter shown. j r Itfu'rther consists iu the employment of a guard for passing ordinary tow-lines over the pivotcd booms, substantially as is hereinafter set forth.` p

It further consists in the employment of. a pivoted sliding boom' for sustaining the end of a towing-chain at alock, substantially as hereinafter shown and de scribed. Y

It further consists 4in the employment of suitable weights for connterbalancing the boom and chain or either separately,substantially as is hereinafter'specfied.

AIt further consists in the construction and relative arrangement of the devices'for receiving and sustaining the friction of the outer end of the pivoted and sliding boom, substantially asis hereinafter Set forth.v

It further consists in the Iconstruction of friotiom` roller braces for sustaining and' guiding the towingchain, substantially as is hereinafter'shown.

. ltfurther consists in the peculiar construction of the device for locking the towing-chain in engagement' with the driving-wheel, substantially as is hereinafterset forth.

It finally consists iu the employment of a` trans# versclyfsliding. guide for containing and regulating the position of the barge tow-line, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified.

In the annexed drawing- A represents the bank or tow-path;

B, the water 'of an ordinary canal; and

O, the side wall of a lock of usual form.

Projecting vertically upward from the bank B, near the wall O,- is a post,4 D, having near its upper end a rectangular opening for the reception of one endfof l a wooden bar, E, which from vthence extends outward at a right angle to the line of the canal, with its outer endabout-in a line with the'inner face of said wall.

Theouter end ofthe bar E passes through acorresponding opening in a sheave-block, F, which, as seen in iig. 10, is pivote'd upon avertical guide, G, secured to theface ofthe wall G, so that'said sheave-block and bar'may together have thereon a free vertical motion, while' atthe saine time the latter may move longitudinally within the former. l

Y A grooved' pulley, f, pivoted within said sheavebloek, so as to bear against the inner side ofthe guide G, and a plain roller, f', so pivoted within said sheaveblock as to receive all horizontally outward pressure upon the bar E, removes nearly all of the friction upon said 4bar and block, andrenders their-'operation comparatively easy.

Secured to and projecting horizontally outward from the end of the bar or boom Epis a metal bar, H, having its outer' vend bent `vertically downward and attached to' one end of' a chain, which, as .seen in figs. 3 and 4, consists ofa series of links, each formed of two washers, I, secured together in parallel lines by .means of two studs, K, having their ends reduced in size and fitted into correspondingopenings provided in and through the ends of said washers, the inner' faces of which have, a bearing against shoulders formed hy reducing the ends of said studs.

The ends of the Ystuds K project outward beyond the washers I to a distance equal to thethickness of the latter, andeach receiveone-end of'a secondwasher,

L, the opposite end of which ,is in like manner pivoted upon a stud of another link, binding vsaid links together and forming from them a chain.

The washers L are held in position upon the stud by slightly heading downtlre ends of the letter; but, it' desired, said ends may project sufficiently to receive a screw-thread and nut. t

Another form of construction is employed' in which the studs are of' uniform size throughout their ,entire length, with atuberor sleeve fitted over-each between the washers, for the purpose of causing tlre'.latter to retain their relative parallel positions, the end of said tube forming shoulders, against which the inner faces of said washers bear.

lAlthough a chain constructed as described is preferred for towing purposes, other ihr-ms may be employed, or, f` desired, a rope may be substituted for the same.

It being necessary that the end of thechain should be held in position nearly in a'line with the deck of a boat, and yet be capable of' a vertical and of' a horizontal movement, in order that it may be varied toy suit the position of boats entering `o'r"leavingythe lock, the outer cndfof the boom E is connterbalanced by means of a weight, M, suspended from a cord or chain, an, which passes upward over a pulley, N, (pivoted within a brace, n, scoured to and projecting outward from the wall C, and from thence, passing outward and downward, has its end secured to the bar H. As thus arranged anyl downward or outward movement of the chain' and boom will elevate the weight, which, upon releasing saidchain .or boom, will return them to their usual positions. 4

A rod, F', secured to lthe sheave-blockF, and extending rearward 'parallel with the-inner face of the boom, with its inner vend passing through a staple, c, secured to and projecting outward from the face of said boom, furnishes an additional guide or brace `for said sheave-block, by means of which its position witlr-relation to the line of said boom is at all times maintained.

In order` that the chain may be kept at a uniform distance from the bank, and also that' the strain upon said chain may be thrown upon compara-tively short sections, the following-described means are employed:

A boom,l0,is pivoted at orre end to a suitable post, P, fixed within the bank A, so as to have a vertical lnoycment only, and projecting outward,- over, or

. within they canal has its tiee end connected to the chain by a bar, o, similar in construction to the bar H upon the hoorn E.

- Two brace-rods, Q, connected to opposite sides of the bar o extend shoreward and outward, 'and have .their rear ends pivoted to the posts P', placed within the bank, in a line with and equidisfant fi'om the post P.

As thus arranged, the hoorn .olers no resistance to-the vertical movement of the chain, but being strongly braced laterally, receives and sustains any lengthwise strain thrown uponthe saure,- and thus renders it possible to use a much lighter chain than would be the case if the strain exerted upon vone por `about forty-five 'degrees from either side, in a line with the canal, serves as a` guard or guide for rarsf..

ing andpassing ordinary tow-lines over the boom.

'so as to permit of their engagement when said cl'rain is caused to rest upon the upper-side o f' said wheel.

Projecting horizontally outward from the side of the boat, near either end, is a brace, U, withinwhich is'y provided a roller,I u, corresponding -in length to the width of the chain, with its axis placed horizontal and at a right angle to the' line -of' the boat.V

'lwo other rollers, V, pivoted verticallygupon"the brace, at either end of the roller 3u, completes the device, the object of which lis to furnish. a support and guide'for the chain, so as to relieve the driving-wheel l of all unnecessary weight and strain.

In order to hohl the chain in engagement with the drivinglwheeh'and prevent its accidental ,displacement therefi'onr,a lever, W', provided upon one-endwith a roller, w, is pivoted upon a brace, r, secured tov and projecting upward from the deck of the boat,r in 'such a position :as to causesaid roller' to -rest upon,V said v chain immediately over said driving-wheel.

n A har, VW, corresponding in length to the distance between the rear end of' the lever W and thedeck of' the-boat, is pivoted at one end to the end of said lever and resting upon said deck, as shown in fig. 6, se-

curely locks said lever' in' position.- l

When desired to remove the, chain from the driving-wheel, the bar W is turned upward, and the rear end of .the lever W depressed so a5 to raise the roller w from off said chain. f

It may bc 4found advantageous to employ the rollers for-,holding the chain in engagement wit-lr the driving-wheel when the boat is moving in either-'directon, in which event the additional lroller should be placeda little behind the"center of said `wheel, and may either he pivoted to the lever X, or to a separate lever.

The power necessary to drive the tug-boat being applied at one side,'itis necessary that the connection between said boat and such barges as it may tow, be also made u porr the same side, and as the resist-ance oiiered by the barges will vary with their number and freight, -it has been found necessary to Vary the 'position laterally of' the toweline connection, in order that the draft 'may be r'endered uniform, and less difiiculty experienced in steering the boat.

To accomplish such result, the bar X, having near one end, two upward project-ing studs x 1v', is placed within corresponding ways or guides Y, extending from the edge of' the deck inward, at a right angle to the line of the boat, said bar being loosely fit-ted sov as to have free longitudinal motion within said ways.

A seriesof'holes, y, are provided in and through the center, transversely ofthe ways Y, and a single hole, corresponding in transverse position, is provided in the bar X, so that it said bar be adjusted longitudinally until its opening corresponds withone ofthe openings within said ways, the former may be locked in position by means of' a pin, z, passed downward through said opening.

As thus constructed, the tow-line is passed between the studs z,and the bar adjusted in or out. as occasion may require.

Another object sought by thel lateral adjustment of the tow-line is to counteract the side draft of the tug, and it may be used even for the purpose of steering the same, in which event a lever, handwheel, or other equivalent actuating device would Abe required.

In actual operation, it is designed thata chain shall I be extended along either. side of the canal, inwhich event the boat would be provided with two sets of supporting roller-braces and two driving-wheels, so as to render it unnecessary for them to turn around while traveling in different directions, and also to enable them to make use of the left-hand chain,'iuor der to'pass a break in the other.

It is expectedthat each tug will'rcarry a supply of links, washers, and studs, so that any breakage of the chain may be speedily repaired by the'removal ofthe damaged portions and the substitution of others.

equivalent device, extended beside, over, or-.within a canal, a series of pivoted braced booms, substantiallyas shown, and for the purpose set fort-h.

Although it is deemed best to have thc chain ter- 2. The hereinbefore described towing-chain, ebussting of the washers I and L, connected together by means of the studs K and sleeves k, substantially as described and shown.

3. Inv combination with the boom O and posts P and P.' the rope guard p, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The-pivoted and sliding hoorn E, constructed as described, incombinatiou with the towing chain or other equivalent device, substantially as and for the purpose shown.. i

5. The-construction and relative arrangement of the sheave`-bloek F, provided with the pulleys f and f', the guide G, the rod F', and the staple c, in combination with the boom E, substantially as shown, and for the purpose specified.,

6. The weight M, the cord m., and the lpulley N, or V their equivalents, in combination with the boom E, and towing-chain, 'substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

7. 'The braces U, provided with the rollers u and V, for the pnrposeof' sustaining and guiding the towing-chain, substantially as described.

8. The ylever W, provided with the roller w, in combiuationwith the pivoted bar XV', or its equivalent, substantially as shown, and for the purpose specified.

9. The combination of' the lever NV, provided with the roller w, with the drivingwheel T, and thetowing-chain, substautiallyas and for the purpose shown.

lOfThe slidingbar X, provided with the studs a' x', the ways Y, and the pin c, for the purpose of changing the point of draft of the towline, substantially as shown and described.

1u testimony that ive'claim the foregoing, we have hereunto setour hands this 9th day of August, 1870.

SIDNEY XV. PALMER. JOSIAH FOREMAN PALMER.

Witnesses:

HORACE T. Cook, HENRYO. COBB. 

